RCB's Strategic Moves: Key Players Set for Release Ahead of IPL 2026
RCB's Future Plans Post IPL 2025 Victory
After clinching the IPL 2025 championship, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are gearing up to enhance their squad for the upcoming season. As part of their strategy, the team is expected to part ways with several notable players, including Liam Livingstone and Rasikh Salam, as they prepare their roster for IPL 2026. Let's delve into the top five players likely to be released by RCB.
Liam Livingstone
RCB brought Liam Livingstone on board for ₹8.75 crore, but his performance in IPL 2025 fell short of expectations. He accumulated only 112 runs across 10 innings, with a top score of 54 against the Gujarat Titans. His contributions with the ball were minimal, claiming just 2 wickets in 4 matches. Due to this inconsistency, he is among the players earmarked for release.
Rasikh Salam
Acquired for ₹6 crore prior to IPL 2025, Rasikh Salam Dar participated in only two matches, conceding 35 runs and taking a single wicket. Given his limited impact and playing time, he is also likely to be released, suggesting that RCB might prefer investing in more promising Indian talent.
Suyash Sharma
Selected for ₹2.6 crore during the IPL 2025 auction, Suyash Sharma had a fair number of opportunities, featuring in 14 matches. His standout performance came against Punjab Kings, where he took 3 wickets for just 17 runs. However, he struggled with consistency, often being expensive and failing to take wickets in many games, which places him on the release list.
Nuwan Thushara
Nuwan Thushara was signed for ₹1.60 crore but only played one match, where he took 1 wicket for 26 runs against the Lucknow Super Giants. His lack of playing time and minimal contributions make him a likely candidate for release.
Yash Dayal
RCB retained Yash Dayal for ₹5 crore, indicating their expectations for his performance. He played 10 matches, securing 13 wickets, with his best performance against Punjab Kings, where he took 2 wickets for 26 runs. However, his inconsistency and a high bowling average of 45.1 raise concerns, making him another potential release.
